Carrier



I l5a Sept. 5, 1967 1 N. H. MOORE 3,339,726

CARRIER Filed May 10, 1965 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 (PR/0R 4R 2: 5-

I I v //4 Sept-5,1967 N.H. MOORE I 3,339,726

CARRIER Filed May 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Lari Ill INVENTOI? NORMA/VH. MOORE 8) 7/ 00, JMM/ v ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1967 N. H. MOORE 3,339,726

CARRIER Filed May 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 //V VE/V TOR NORMAN H. MOORESept. 5, 1967 MOORE 3,339,726

CARRIER Fil'ed May 10, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IV VE /V TOR NORMAN H.MOORE BYJ ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,339,726 CARRIER Norman H. Moore, Palo Alto,Calif, assignor to Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation, San Francisco,Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 455,052 9Claims. (Cl. 206-65) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A carrier which includesa top panel and side panels with a panel portion connected therebetweencomprising a first panel portion arranged in diverging relationship withrespect to a side panel, a second panel portion horizontally disposedand arranged in a raised relationship with respect to said top panel,and a third panel portion connecting said second panel portion to saidtop panel.

This invention relates to a carrier for retaining a plurality ofbeverage or like containers and more particularly relates to a carrierarranged to protect container closure caps against damage.

A number of carriers have been proposed to retain a plurality ofcylindrical beverage containers. Such containers often constitutebottles comprising so-called easyopen closure caps having tabs adaptedto expedite removal thereof. In order to facilitate such removal, thetab generally maintains a slightly raised position with respect to thetop-most plane of the bottle cap. The tab is thus subject to snaggingwhen a number of carriers are stacked on top of each other, for example.

Conventional carriers do not afford adequate protection to such bottlecaps nor do they efficiently retain the bottles or other types ofcontainers therein. Furthermore, such carriers are generally limited tothe retention of a specifically shaped container.

This invention has substantially overcome the above, briefly mentionedproblems by providing a carrier comprising flap means for covering andthus protecting the containers easy-open closure caps. Furthermore, thecarrier of this invention comprises panel portions arranged tostrengthen the top portion of the carrier and to restrain the containersagainst adverse movements by applying retaining pressures at criticalportions on the crowns of the containers.

Also, as will be hereinafter more fully described the carrier is adaptedto retain containers having varied configurations and is thus notrestricted to the retention of one specifically shaped container.Furthermore, the side panels of the carrier are adapted to be foldedinto an upright position to form a handle means.

An object of this invention is to provide a carrier blank adapted to beexpeditiously erected to efiiciently retain a plurality of cylindricallyshaped bottles or like containers therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide a carrier comprising flapmeans arranged to protect easy-open closure caps aflixed to thecontainers retained therein.

A further object of this invention is to provide a carrier comprisingpanel portions arranged to strengthen the top portion thereof and torestrain a plurality of containers against movement by applyingretaining pressures at critical portions on the crowns of thecontainers.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a carrierconstructed and arranged to transport containers having variedconfigurations.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a carrierconstructed and arranged to have side panel portions thereof folded intoan upright position to form a handle means.

3,339,726 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 Further and more specific objects ofthis invention will become apparent from the following description anddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a preferred embodiment of theerected carrier of this invention arranged to retain a plurality ofcontainers therein;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line IIIIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a so-called easy-open bottle cap;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a prior art carrierconstruction FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a blank adapted to be formedinto the carrier illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the blank illustrated inFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates the carrier shown in FIG. 1 as it may appear duringone step in the packaging operation;

FIG. 9 illustrates the carrier as it may appear during a subsequent stepin the packaging operation; and

FIG. 10 is an isometric view illustrating the carrier of FIG. 1 with theside panels thereof folded into an upright position to form a handleportion.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred carrier of this invention,symmetrically formed about a longitudinal axis thereof, comprises ahorizontally disposed top panel 11a11b, vertically arranged end panels12 having flaps 12a hingedly connected thereto (FIG. 8) and a bottompanel 13. Vertically arranged side panels 14, comprising adhesivelysecured panel portions 15a-15b, are hingedly connected to the bottompanel. Since the carrier is symmetrically arranged, like numerals depictcorresponding elements on each side of the carrier.

First, second and third panel portions 16a-16b, 17a- 17b and 18a18b,respectively, are hingedly connected together by means of a plurality ofparallel scorelines. The panel portions are arranged between the top andside panels to form an integrated carrier construction. As shown, thefirst and third panel portions are substantially arranged to extendtowards the second panel portion in converging relationship.

Panel portions 15a, 16a, 17a and 18a are preferably arranged intelescoping relationship with respect to underlying panel portions 15b,16b, 17b and 18b, respectively. These overlying panel portions may besuitably secured together by conventional adhesive means or the like.Although panel portion 15a is shown as secured in overlying relationshipwith respect to flap 14 it should be understood that alternatively,panel portions 15a and 15b may be tucked between flap 14 and theupstanding bottles or containers b.

Also, in certain applications it may be preferred to dispense with theabove described telescoping arrangement. For example, panel portions11a, 15a, 16a, 17a and 18a in FIG. 6 could be formed as integral partsof panel portions 11b, 15b, 16b, 17b, and 18b, respectively. Thus, aflap such as flap 27 could then be affixed to a side panel 12 to formthe carrier. Furthermore, if so desired, end panels 12 could be removedand the carrier suitably arranged to form an open-end type carrier.

As more clearly disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 3, horizontally disposed panelportions 17a and 17b are raised to a position above the plane of toppanel Ila-11b and have flap means 19 arranged to extend therefrom tosubstan tially cover and protect closure caps 0. Each cap, illustratedin FIG. 4 as affixed to the crown portion of the bottle, may comprise aconventional tab means c adapted to be manually grasped to expediteremoval of the cap from the bottle. This tab, as more clearly depictedin FIG. 3, has a tendency to slightly raise itself from the top-mostplane of the bottle cap due to its inherent resiliency. Flap means 19functions to prevent a snagging of the opening tab when the carriers arestacked on top of each other, for example.

As suggested above, further novel aspects of this invention comprise aunique container retaining arrangement, formed by panel portion 11a,16a, 17a and 18a, which further functions to strengthen the top portionof the carrier. As disclosed in FIG. 2, retaining pressures are appliedat critical areas of the crown portion of the container.

In order to more fully appreciate this novelty, reference is made to aconventional carrier construction illustrated in FIG. 5. As indicatedtherein, the container is constructed and arranged to apply a firstpressure at point A on the neck of the bottle and a second pressure atpoint B on the shoulder of the bottle. Such pressure points arenecessary to prevent movement of the bottle laterally with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the carrier, i.e., in the direction of arrows Aand B.

In comparison thereto, the above-mentioned panel portions of thisinvention comprise means constructed and arranged to apply retainingpressures at critical portions of the crown portion of a container, asillustrated at the area depicted by arrow C in FIG. 2. This arrangementnot only affords an efficient retaining function but further providesthat bottles having various configurations may be utilized due to thefact that no pressure point is needed in the general area depicted byarrow D.

As more clearly illustrated in FIG. 7, panel portion 18a comprisesnotched portions 18a adapted to be raised out of the plane of the blank(FIG. 9) and arranged to permit closure cap to be freely moved into theposition illustrated in FIG. 3. Edge portions of the cap protrudethrough and rest upon arcuate edge 11a of top panel portion 11a to thusform pressure points along with relatively raised portion 16a of panelportion 16a to prevent movement of the container in a lateral directionwith respect to the longitudinal axis of the carrier.

In addition, notch portions 18a form edges on panel portion 18a toaiford pressure points constructed and arranged to prevent the crownportion of the container from moving in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the carrier. Thus it can be seen that the abovedescribed carn'er arrangements apply retaining pressures at criticalportions of the containers to prevent movement thereof in alldirections. In addition, tabs 19 and portions of panel portions 17a aidin preventing vertical movements of the bottle.

The above described arrangements further function to strengthen the topportion of the carrier. In particular, as noted in FIG. 2, panelportions 17a are maintained in a raised position with respect to toppanel 11a-11b. It has been found that such an arrangement functions toresist the tendency of top panel 11a-11b to distort when the carrier ismanually transported, for example.

In order to prevent contact between the bottom ends of two juxtaposedbottles, a plurality of spacer tabs 25 may be suitably formed out of theblank as disclosed in FIG. 6. The spacer tabs may be arranged verticallyto separate the bottles, as illustrated in FIG. 2, to thus protectagainst breakage. As further illustrated in FIG. 6, tabs 26 are formedin top panel portions 11a and 11b to provide finger holes fortransporting the carrier. If so desired, a flap 27 may be hingedlyconnected to top panel portion 11b and suitably attached to panelportion 11a during the formation of the carrier to increase thestructural integrity thereof.

The blank illustrated in FIG. 6 is symmetrically formed on each side ofa longitudinal axis thereof. The flattened blank initially comprisesside Wall panels 14 connected to each side edge of bottom panel 13, anend panel 12 connected to each end edge of the bottom panel andrespective first and second top panels 11a and 11b each connected to anedge of an end panel remote from the bottom panel.

As illustrated, the top panels have a width in a direction transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the blank which is substantially narrower thanthe width of the bottom and end panels. Such an arrangement provides forthe above described arrangement of panel portions 16a-18a and 1612-18b,connected to respective side edges of the top panels. Each arcuatelyshaped aperture is formed in a top panel and arranged to extend into theabove panel portions and terminate adjacent the scoreline connectingpanel portions 17a and 18a, for example.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the blank may be erected and formedinto a tubular shape for purposes of side loading the two rows ofcontainers therein. Suitable machinery may be employed to break theparallel scorelines which join the various panel portions to top panel11a 11b so as to facilitate loading of the containers to the abovedescribed position. Thereafter, the remaining panel portions may besuitably secured together to form the completed carrier of FIG. 1.United States Patent No. 3,090,520, assigned to the assignee of thisinvention, discloses a number of specific packaging steps which may beutilized to form and load the carrier of this invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, panel portions 15a-18a and panel portionsllSb-lSb may be readily released from side panels 14, raised to anupright position on both sides of the carrier and attached together toform a handle means for transporting the containers. This function maybe utilized, for example, after the contents of the containers have beenexhausted and it is desired to return such containers to a market.

In order to facilitate the formation of the handle member panel portions15a15b may be initially affixed to side panels 14 with a readilyreleasable adhesive. Also, panel portions 16a and 16b have flaps 28a and28b, respectively, formed therein. As shown, these flaps may be bentover into superimposed relationship to form means for connecting panelportions 15a-15b together and for manually grasping the carrier handle.

As above suggested, this invention is not limited to a carrier forretaining containers having a specific configuration nor is it limitedto the packaging of bottles. Also, rather than packaging six containersas illustrated it should be understood that the novel concepts hereintaught may be applied to the packaging of a lesser or greater number ofcontainers.

I claim:

1. A carrier comprising a horizontally disposed top panel, verticallyarranged and opposed side panels, a bottom panel connecting said sidepanels and panel portions connected between said top panel and each ofsaid side panels, said top panel having a width substantially less thanthat of said bottom panel, said panel portions comprising a first panelportion arranged in diverging relationship with respect to a side panel,a second panel portion horizontally disposed and arranged in raisedrelationship with respect to said top panel and a third panel portionconnecting said second panel portion to said top panel.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said first, second and thirdpanel portions and said top panel comprise portions a-rranged intelescoping and attached relationship with respect to each other.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said side panels comprisespanel portions constructed and arranged to be raised to an uprightposition on both sides of the carrier to form a handle means along withsaid first, second and third panel portions and means for connectingsaid side panel portions together.

4. A carrier having two rows of containers retained therein, each ofsaid containers comprising a crown portion terminating in a closure capat an upper end thereof,

said carrier comprising horizontally disposed top and bottom panels,said top panel being substantially narrower than said bottom panelvertically disposed side panels connected to said bottom panel and panelportions connecting each of said side panels to said top panel, each rowof said containers arranged closely adjacent to each side panel with theclosure cap of each container arranged to protrude through an arcuatelyshaped aperture formed in said top panel, said panel portions defined bya plurality of parallel scorelines and comprising a firs-t panel portionarranged to apply retaining pressures to the closure caps of one row ofcontainers in a direction towards the other row of containers, ahorizontally disposed second panel portion positioned above said toppanel and a third panel portion connecting said second panel portion tosaid top panel.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein each of said apertures forms opposednotch portions in said third panel portion constructed and arranged tohave a closure cap moved thereby during loading, each closure cap havingedge portions resting upon arcuate portions formed on said top panel byeach of said apertures.

6. A flat blank symmetrically formed on each side of a longitudinal axisthereof, said blank comprising a bottom panel adapted to retain aplurality of upstanding containers thereon, a side wall panel connectedto each side edge of said bottom panel, an end panel connected to eachend edge of said bottom panel and first and second top panels eachconnected to an edge of an end panel remote from said bottom panel, eachof said top panels having a width in a direction transverse to saidlongitudinal axis which is substantially narrower than the Width of saidbottom and end panels and further having a plurality of panel portionsconnected to each side edge thereof and means forming at least onearcuately shaped aperture in said top panel extending into said panelportions.

7. In a one-piece wrap-around carrier including top, bottom and sidepanels, the top panel being substantially narrower than the bottompanel, said carrier having a plurality of upstanding containers retainedtherein, each container comprising a crowned portion terminating in aclosure cap arranged to extend above the top panel of said carrier, theinvention which comprises panel portions formed on said carrier andarranged to apply retaining pressures to the crown portion of eachcontainer in cooperation with an arcuate edge formed on said top panel,said panel portions comprising a first panel portion arranged in opposedrelationship and positioned above said arcuate edge to apply a retainingpressure to said closure cap in a direction toward the longitudinal axisof the carrier and second and third panel portions connecting said firstpanel portion to said top panel, said second panel portion beingpositioned above the plane of said top panel.

-8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said first and third panelportion-s are substantially arranged to extend towards said second panelportion in converging relationship.

9. A carrier blank comprising a top panel, a first end panel, a bottompanel and a second end panel, said top panel being substantiallynarrower than said bottom panel and having panel portions connected toeach side thereof, said panel portions comprising a panel portionarranged to form at least a portion of a side panel of a formed carrier,a first panel portion connected to said panel portion at a first scoreline, a second panel portion connected to said first panel portion at asecond score line and a third panel portion connected to said top panelat a third score line, said score lines arranged in substantiallyparallel relationship with respect to each other, arcuately shapedapertures formed in said top panel and said third panel portion, saidarcuately shaped apertures comprising notched portions formed in saidthird panel portion and extending on each side of said arcuateapertures, said notched portions being adapted to permit a cylindricallyshaped cap to pass thereby when said third panel portion is raised withrespect to said top panel during the carrier loading operation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,079,352 5/ 1937 Keith 229522,289,859 7/ 1942 Arthur 220l08 3,156,358 11/1964 Randrup 206- 3,175,6843/1965 Andre 20665 3,186,545 6/ 1965 Conrades 229-40 X 3,257,066 6/1966Williams 229 40 LOUIS G. MANOENE, Primary Examiner.

1. A CARRIER COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TOP PANEL, VERTICALLYARRANGED AND OPPOSED SIDE PANELS, A BOTTOM PANEL CONNECTING SAID SIDEPANELS AND PANEL PORTIONS CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID TOP PANEL AND EACH OFSAID SIDE PANELS, SAID TOP PANEL HAVING A WIDTH SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THANTHAT OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, SAID PANEL PORTIONS COMPRISING A FIRST PANELPORTION ARRANGED IN DIVERGING RELATIONSHIP WITH REPECT TO A SIDE PANEL,A SECOND PANEL PORTION HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AND ARRANGED IN RAISEDRELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP SECOND PANEL AND A THIRD PANELPORTION CONNECTING SAID SECOND PANELS PORTION TO SAID TOP PANEL.